Bryan Kastleman

Bryan Kastleman is the owner, founder, and president of Kastleman & Associates, Inc., a commercial real estate investment business based in Austin, Texas. The company focuses solely on the acquisition of multi-family properties, RV parks and mobile home parks. Bryan Kastleman founded the real estate firm in 1980, after graduating from the University of Austin with a business degree focusing on real estate. Outside of his professional work, he is involved in contributing to charitable organizations, including the Homeless Coalition of Comal County. Because Bryan Kastleman’s company focuses its acquisition criteria so narrowly on these property types, it has been able to amass a wealth of knowledge concerning this specific sector of Austin’s real estate market. The firm’s largest real estate venture to date is the purchase of Hill Country RV Resort & Cottage Rentals, an RV park and vacation rental business in New Braunfels, Texas. After being renovated and expanded, the park was sold at the beginning of 2016.

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Where are most of the country’s new apartments going up? Right here.

Rents in Austin have been rising — alarmingly — for a while, but there might be some relief on the horizon. Of the more than 320,000 new apartments in the ...

Apartments are booming in Austin!

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Texas’ Best Suburbs

Recently, Thrillest Media Group did a great article on the “Best Suburbs in America.” This month, I thought I would share with you Thrillest’s top Texas picks for best suburbs. It is no secret that as Americans flock to Texas, our cities will get crowded. We have already seen a trend in city dwellers moving out to the suburbs or even all the way out to the country. Known as experts in food, drink, travel, and even fashion – Thrillest based their search for best suburbs on 3 main things:

a decent food and drink scene

a reasonable commute

a local uniqueness or history

First up, just outside of Austin with a population of just over 100,000 is Round Rock, Texas. Not only can you buy more home for less outside of the city, but you get some seriously delicious eats too! According to Thrillest the must try spots are Hopdaddy, Greenhouse Craft Food, Round Rock Donuts, and Flix Brewhouse – a movie theater + microbrewery! Cheers!

Next up, just outside of Dallas-Fort Worth with a population of just over 160,000 is McKinney, Texas. Talk about local flare, McKinney boasts a scenic downtown and good eats at Square Burger, Cadillac Pizza Pub, Harvest, and don’t forget to try the Zin Zen Wine Bar!

Next up, just outside of Houston with a population just over 100,000 is Pearland, Texas. With the recent addition of Killen’s Barbecue and Killen’s Steakhouse, Pearland is quickly becoming a foodie’s dream!

Finally, our personal favorite Texas suburb, just outside of San Antonio with a population of just over 66,000 is New Braunfels. Are you looking for outdoor recreation? They have two rivers and the nation’s largest waterpark. Is it culture you’re looking for? Their German heritage is celebrated every year at Wurstfest and boast Texas’ oldest dance hall (Gruene Hall). Is the way to your heart through delicious food? You must try the Gristmill. New Braunfels has it all!

Are you looking to buy or sell commercial property near one of these hot markets? I am happy to invest in you and your real estate dreams. Email me today at [email protected]!

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Where should new college grads settle down? Austin, of course.

Not a surprise: Young professionals love Austin. It's not just the mix of hip culture and Hill Country beauty that attracts recent grads but Austin's healthy job prospects and (relatively) ...

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An essential guide to the best swimming holes in Central Texas

There's no better way to beat the summer heat than with a refreshing swim. Dip into our guide to the best swimming holes in Austin and throughout Central Texas. Barton ...

Conquer the summer heat with these great swimming spots!

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Austin Outsmarts the Rest As One of America’s Most Educated Cities

Feeling smart? You should. Austin-Round Rock ranks among the 10 most educated places in the U.S., according to a new report from WalletHub.

To determine the rankings, the financial website compared the 150 largest metropolitan areas across metrics in two key areas: educational attainment and quality of education. Based on its findings, Austin ranks No. 9 in the nation.

We score high when it comes to educational attainment. Almost 90 percent of Austinites ages 25 and older have a high school diploma. Sixty-nine percent have an associate's degree or some college experience, 41 percent have a bachelor's degree, and 14 percent have a graduate or professional degree.

Austin also earns top marks for the quality of education. Our public schools rank 17th best in the nation, and local universities come in close behind, at No. 20.

Unfortunately, we have one of the largest disparities between black and white bachelor's degree-holders, ranking No. 102 out of 150. The gap between females and males is better, but not ideal, at No. 39.

Still, there's no doubt that Austin outsmarts the rest of Texas, as Dallas-Forth Worth (No. 71), Houston (No. 76), and San Antonio (No. 110) are far behind. The nation's three most educated cities are Ann Arbor, Michigan; Washington; and San Jose, California.

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Scorching Austin real estate market poised for another record-breaking year

Austin is on track for yet another record-breaking year in real estate. That’s according to the June and Midyear 2016 Central Texas Housing Market Report released by the Austin Board ...

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Report from the Front Lines: The Housing Boom

Central Texas’s booming housing market shows no signs of slowing. 2015, itself a record-breaking year for Austin market sales, will soon be outstripped by this year’s rapid activity, according to …

On the Blog | Report from the Front Lines: The Housing Boom

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Here’s where Austin home sales are really heating up

It's not just single-family homes that are selling like hotcakes in Austin. The2016 Texas Condominium Mid-Year Sales Report shows that condo sales — and prices — are going up, up, up.

Almost 1,200 condos were sold in Austin from January through May 2016, a 10.1 percent increase from 2015, when sales were in a slump.

Why the jump? The Texas Association of Realtors attributes the uptick to retirees and first-time buyers seeking a more affordable alternative to single-family homes. "Millennials and retirees who don’t want the upkeep of a traditional, single-family home and want to be close to nightlife and amenities also see condos as an attractive housing option," adds the report.

But the more desirable condos become, the higher the prices rise. The median condo price in Austin increased 6.3 percent year-over-year to $235,000. With a median price of $233,415, harder-to-find townhomes are a (slightly) cheaper option for Austinites.

"A challenge facing new Texas condo and townhome developments is that these types of housing, similar to single-family, are generally not being built for under $200,000 due to high land and labor costs," says Jim Gaines, chief economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, in a release.

"However, the older, existing condos are typically the predominant properties left in Texas’ major metro areas that can be purchased for under $200,000, the price range best suited for first-time, entry-level homebuyers."

In Texas' other major markets, condos remain an affordable, attractive option for buyers. Despite double-digit growth, the median prices for condos in San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas are $125,000, $130,000, and $160,000, respectively.  

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So Many Austin Millennials Live Alone - But Can They Really Afford It?

Any way you slice it, Austin is a playground for millennials. The city is full of young professionals actively embracing Austin’s lively offerings, and they're doing so independently.

In fact, a recent report by Zillow says Austin is among the 10 U.S. cities with the greatest percentage of millennials living alone. Over 13 percent of millennials live on their own in the Capital City, a figure that Zillow attributes to our strong 5 percent year-over-year employment growth.

But that independent streak comes at a cost. Instead of eating out every night or having 100 cable channels, millennials are cutting the flab in order to afford the luxury of single living. And it's necessary in Austin.

The study shows that millennials living alone in Austin make a median salary of $40,000. Despite being named one of the top metro areas for millennial homebuyers, they can afford only 1.5 percent of available Austin homes. That staggering percentage is by far the lowest on the list — millennials in Oklahoma City, for instance, can afford more than 20 percent of homes.

While affordability is an increasing issue in Austin, we're still leading the pack in the Lone Star State. In San Antonio, 11 percent of millennials live alone. Twelve percent of Dallas-Fort Worth millennials live alone; in Houston the figure is just 10 percent. Those metros also have a much larger millennial population living at home to make ends meet.

Where is the highest concentration of independent young people? Richmond, Virginia (15 percent); Pittsburgh (14.3 percent); and Buffalo, New York (14.2 percent) round out the top three. Kansas City, Missouri; New Orleans; and Oklahoma City are on par with Austin.

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Here's how much the first-time Texas homebuyer spends and makes

The path to homeownership has been a bumpy one for millennials, but some have managed to move out of their parents' basements and secure their own home sweet home. Who ...

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New report signals the hottest summer yet for Austin real estate market

With the official start of summer comes a new report from the Austin Board of Realtors (ABoR) that outlines the state of our increasingly hot Austin housing market. Released Tuesday, ...

“A strong selling summer could be ahead.”

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Calling All Summer Sellers!

Did you know that New Braunfels was just named the second fastest growing city in the country? That means even more real estate opportunities will soon be available in the Hill Country. But what go…

On the Blog | Calling All Summer Sellers!

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Travel Authority Names Favorite Austin Swimming Hole One of the Best in the Nation

When temperatures start rising, where do you go to cool off? If you've checked out our list of natural swimming spots, then you already know that McKinney Falls State Park is one of the best in Austin — now the country. Travel Channel just named this local gem among the top 10 swimming holes in the U.S.

It's easy to see how the network fell in love with the Southeast Austin park, especially at this time of year, when Onion Creek is flush with water from the spring rains. In addition to swimming, this 700-acre park is also a majorhiking and camping destination filled with historical relics.

"McKinney Falls State Park houses 8 miles of trails and one that leads to an incredible waterfall with a prehistoric past. An 8-foot-tall, rain-fed waterfall carved out of limestone cascades into a calm swimming hole underneath," Travel Channel reports.

The declaration is part of a new show called Top Secret Swimming Holes, which premieres Sunday, June 19, at 9 pm. While the actual program explores swimming holes around the world, the Travel Channel took time to highlight the best of the U.S., from Opal Pool up in Oregon down to Ginnie Springs in Florida.

In need of a dip? McKinney Falls State Park is open daily from 8 am to 10 pm. Entry for the day is $6 per person and $20 to reserve a campsite.

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In the market for a new job? Austin is the place to be

Job hunting? You've come to the right place. Texas is a big winner on Forbes' 2016 list of the best big cities for jobs, with three metros making an appearance, including ...

Both Austin and New Braunfels are featured on this list of the best cities for jobs.

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What Are the Best Cities for Millennial Home Buyers?

Aspiring millennial homeowners may want to shun the bright lights of the Big Apple and the pricey appeal of Silicon Valley and move to Austin, TX, instead.

The National Association of Realtors® has crowned Austin the best city in the nation for young home buyers!

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The 10 best Memorial Day weekend activities around Austin

Memorial Day weekend serves as a segue into summer, one of the best times of the year in Austin. Our city offers a wide variety of ways to mark this ...

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Here's some pleasant news for potential homebuyers across the nation: Real estate investment site HomeUnion says the U.S. housing market shows signs of flattening.